Casma

Casma
Town
Nickname: 
Tierra del Eterno Sol (Land of the Eternal Sun)
Casma is located in Peru
Casma
Casma
Location of in Peru
Coordinates: 9°28′27″S 78°18′38″W / 9.47417°S 78.31056°W / -9.47417; -78.31056
Country Peru
RegionAncash
ProvinceCasma
Elevation
210 m (680 ft)
Population
 • Estimate 
(2015)[1]
29,343
Time zonePET

Casma is a city in the coastal desert of Peru, located 330 kilometers (210 mi) northwest of Lima. It is the capital of Casma Province and the third most populous city in the Ancash Region with an estimated population of 29,343 (2015)[1]. It is located in the lower Casma Valley, covering an area of 1,205 km2.

The name of the city may derive from the extinct Quingman language.

Miguel Grau statue in the main square in Casma, Peru.

Santa Maria Magdalena is the city's patron saint, whose day is celebrated on July 22.

Some of the largest prehistoric monuments around the world are situated around the city, in the Casma and Sechin valleys. These include Sechin, Chanquillo, Mojeque and Las Aldas.[2]

The nearby Pacific coastline boasts beaches such as La Gramita, El Litro, Punta el Huaro and Tortugas.

  1. ^ Perú: Población estimada al 30 de junio y tasa de crecimiento de las ciudades capitales, por departamento, 2011 y 2015. Perú: Estimaciones y proyecciones de población total por sexo de las principales ciudades, 2012-2015 (Report). Instituto Nacional de Estadística e Informática. March 2012. Retrieved 2015-06-03.
  2. ^ "Casma | Coastal Ancash | Oldest Archaeology in Americas | Sechin, Chankillo, las Aldas, Pañamarca".